Caribbean Coral Diaries: Angaricia humilis

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Undaria Agaricia humilis

Undaria Agaricia corals are common throughout the Caribbean which forms plate-likeate like structures. This coral has small polyps which are most often retracted into the coral, and corallites and ridges run parallel to the edge of the colony.

The genus Undaria is no longer valid and this species has been updated to reflect the accepted genus of Agaricia

Corallites are in small series with lines commonly separated by higher and pointed ridges. The valleys can be 2-3 millimeters deep and usually contain between 1-5 corallite per valley.

Low Relief Lettuce Coral

Colonies form into small domes with thin plating edges. The common name for this coral is the low relief lettuce coral. Colonies are almost always yellow and the polyps and center of the ridges at the same color at the colonies surface.

The interesting thing to look out for when searching for this coral is the different patterns created by coral ridges. Colonies will be small between 10-20cm in diameter.

You can find this coral from 2m (6 feet) down to 20 meters (65 feet).

agaricites coral on the left has fluid squiggly ridges and humilis on the right has sharp angular ridges

Nicole (Nikki) Helgason is a PADI Dive Instructor with ten years of professional dive experience. Nicole has taught scuba diving and managed dive centers around the world. Nicole has a Bachelors degree in Coastal Geography from the University of Victoria and is passionate about coral reefs.